A simple, cheap, and FAST hay feeder for goats

Well, here I am again after a long absence! Our goat house isn't yet built, so we're making do with a movable shed my husband made to brood turkey poults.

Of course, a turkey brooder doesn't have a hay rack, so we were putting the hay on the ground under cover (or under a tree if it wasn't going to rain).

And, also of course, the goats spread it all around and pooped and peed in it, and there was a LOT of waste! These pics were *after* I'd cleaned out about 4 times more wasted hay...

So, I was poking around on Google, looking for a "covered goat hat feeder," and saw this idea; it's fast, cheap, and easy! 

We just got an inexpensive plastic storage tub with a latching top, and cut some holes for the goats to eat out of. I chose a latching top so the goats would find it difficult to knock the top off, and we mounted the feeder at a slightly angle so rain wouldn't pool on the cover.

It's working wonderfully!

New, new, new changes at the Fowl Fortress!

And I apologize for not blogging regularly; I need to do much, much better.

The Beloved Husband and I have been talking off and on over the past year-and-a-half as to whether we wanted to get goats and pigs. This past 10 days we have made the moves to purchase many more animals for the farm.

Yesterday, we purchased three young Nubian goat does and brought them home, and they are currently sharing a portion of the Emu pen.

Apparently, the emus are quite scary, so the goats are staying as far away as possible! Their shelter is nearer to the emus, so I think we'll have to drive the goats inside tonight and close them in. They need to know it's a warm, dry, and safe spot.

I am HOPING that I can game the breeding season and have one or two of the does bred in early spring, and then the rest in the fall. Gestation is 5 months, and lactating does need to dry out 2 months prior to birth. I'm aiming for always having milk available. Of course, it might be wiser to try for early fall and mid-winter matings - aiiiiiigggghhhh, so many considerations! Ah, well, it will get figured out.